Updates on the Matt Papirmeister Award Recipients

August 2024

In the first two years of presenting the Matt Papirmeister Award, Youth Art For Healing's financial support has had a significant impact on the 2023 and 2024 recipients, who have all kindly provided updates for us to share with the YAFH community. YAFH’s support has enabled them to attend educational institutions otherwise out of reach, work fewer hours in order to focus more on their studies and artwork, and given them the confidence and motivation to move forward in their careers as artists.

Isabel Acuna Marin (2023)

Award winner Isabel Acuna Marin was a member of the National Art Honors Society (NAHS) and participant in the YAFH program during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years. The beautiful painting she created of a mountain lake scene is now permanently installed at MedStar Health Physical Therapy at Pikesville. But as a junior and senior in high school, she felt insecure about her future. She questioned her abilities as an artist and worried about how to finance her art education. “Winning the Matt Papirmeister Award at the end of my senior year rewarded and honored me, allowing me to pursue my childhood dream of a career in art and motivating me to move forward […] I thought I wouldn’t be able to study art due to economic hardship, but with the help of YAFH, I was able to embark on my artistic education at my dream university.”

Isabel completed her first year at college where she was busy exploring various techniques and materials. “Thanks to YAFH, I have had a wonderful first year of college […] My professors and peers have encouraged me to discover my unique voice and have challenged me to become a better artist conceptually and technically. I have met wonderful people, explored a new city, and continued to create art with the purpose of healing and conveying positive messages.”

Erin Malone (2023)

Also a NAHS member, Erin Malone contributed to YAFH projects for two years of her high school career. Her beautiful painting of an autumn mountain landscape from the 2022-23 school year is now permanently installed at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland. Involvement with YAFH had special meaning for her because for her first project, she was asked to create artwork for Children’s National Hospital, a place she had visited many times since she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of seven. “As a child, I always noticed the art made by other kids in the halls of the hospital and I loved looking at them […] it was something to distract me from all the thoughts of needles and blood tests,” says Erin. “Suddenly I was at the other end of those paintings that I had gazed at in the hallways. Now I was the person who made those beautiful gifts.” The experience was very rewarding for Erin, who says, “I was so happy to be able to provide something for the place that quite literally saved my life more than once.”

Erin tells us that she was honored to receive the Matt Papirmeister Award, which helped pay for her college tuition during the 2023-24 school year. “I had a job to help me pay for my expenses, but because of the scholarship, I was able to work a few less hours than I otherwise would have needed. This freed up time for me to focus more on my studies, which included creating more art.”

Giselle Maravilla (2024)

Enrolled in the Montgomery County Public Schools Visual Art Center (VAC) Program during the 2023-24 school year, Giselle Maravilla created a beautiful painting of the Torogoz, the national bird of El Salvador, for her award application. Her painting is permanently installed at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, where it serves as “a reminder of the importance of resilience and adaptation in the face of adversity,” as Giselle wrote in her application.

As she begins her first year of college, Giselle tells us that, “The financial support provided by the award has significantly eased the burden of tuition and related expenses, allowing me to focus more intently on my studies and less on financial concerns.” But the award has had another very important effect on Giselle as well. “Beyond the financial assistance, being honored with the Matt Papirmeister Award has profoundly impacted my confidence and motivation. The recognition has affirmed my abilities and potential, inspiring me to strive for excellence in all that I do. Furthermore, this award has given me the confidence to continue creating art and inspiring others within my community.” She is now determined more than ever to use art as a medium to inspire and uplift others: “I am committed to making the most of this incredible opportunity, excelling academically, and continuing to create art that inspires and resonates with others.”

Alanna Sidlowski (2024)

Also an NAHS member and enrolled in the VAC Program during the 2023-24 school year, Alanna Sidlowski created a striking landscape of an Arizona sunrise for her award application. Her painting is also permanently installed at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Involved with YAFH projects during earlier years of high school, Alanna told us that “YAFH touched my heart by providing a resource for patients and front-line healthcare workers alike during the pandemic. I had felt helpless and isolated for two years at that point, but YAFH provided an opportunity to create for the most vulnerable people in the community.” Once discovering her passion for using art to uplift others, she also created artwork for children in Cameroon and India through The Memory Project.

Receiving the Matt Papirmeister Award reaffirmed her commitment to this work: “When applying for college, I was deeply grateful for YAFH supporting me,” expressing appreciation for our organization’s commitment to providing financial aid for students with a strong vision and desire to heal through their art. She tells us that, “As I start my college years, I hope to involve myself in a program or organization similar to YAFH that combines art with the ability to support the mental health of veterans […] I hope to utilize my own and others’ art as a medium to heal those who need support and to destigmatize mental health conditions.”

Meet the Recipients of the
2024 YAFH Matt Papirmeister Award

june 2024

We're very pleased to introduce you to graduating seniors Alanna Sidlowski and Giselle Maravilla, the recipients of the 2024 Youth Art For Healing Matt Papirmeister Award. This annual award is presented to two high school seniors who each receive a $2,500 scholarship toward their post-secondary education. YAFH created this award to honor the life of Matt Papirmeister, son of YAFH founder Jan Papirmeister and her husband Chuck. The award is designed to honor Matt’s kind spirit and zest for life, and to support student artists who create uplifting art for others and do good in the community.

Students at Albert Einstein High School, both Alanna and Giselle came highly recommended by their art teacher Sarah Harnish, Co-Coordinator & Instructor at the Montgomery County Public Schools Visual Art Center (VAC). The VAC is a selective county-wide AP honors-level portfolio development program.

As part of the Matt Papirmeister Award application process, each student must create and submit a painting that is healing, inspirational, and comforting for others. The award winners' paintings will be permanently installed in a healthcare environment for patients and their loved ones, and staff to view and enjoy.

Alanna created a striking landscape of an Arizona sunrise. A dedicated National Art Honor Society (NAHS) member, Alanna participated in YAFH creating paintings for installation in local hospitals, and served in a leadership role with The Memory Project to create artworks for children in Cameroon and India. Her artwork has received recognition from local and regional art competitions, including Friends of the Yellow Barn Studio, Black Rock Art Studio, and the 8th District Congressional Art Competition Second Place Winner 2023. Alanna shared that she “found this love [of community service] through painting and donating landscapes with the help of Youth Art For Healing," and said that “As I start my college years, I hope to involve myself in a program or organization similar to YAFH that combines art with the ability to support the mental health of veterans. My hope is that creating pieces of and for people who struggle with PTSD or depressive disorders is that they will raise awareness of these conditions and their effects on the brave young men and women who serve or have served in the U.S. Military. I hope to utilize my own and others’ art as a medium to heal those who need support and to destigmatize mental health conditions.”

Giselle created a beautiful painting of the Torogoz, the national bird of El Salvador. She wrote that the Torogoz, "Serves as a reminder of the importance of resilience and adaptation in the face of adversity, as well as the inherent interconnectedness of all living beings. In a world often marked by division and discord, the Torogoz serves as a beacon of hope.” Giselle shared her commitment to "...creating a more vibrant and inclusive community for all," demonstrated by her many volunteer activities. She served as Vice President and President of the National Art Honor Society for two years, participated in YAFH creating paintings that were installed in local hospitals, and as a participant in The Memory Project created portraits for children in Cameroon and India. Her artwork has been recognized in regional and national competitions, including a citation from Jamie Raskin's 8th Congressional Art Competition in 2023. All of these activities have inspired Giselle to continue contributing to her community after her high school graduation. Giselle shared: “Knowing that my art has the potential to positively affect someone's life, even in a small way, fills me with a sense of purpose and joy.”

Alanna and Giselle's vibrant paintings will be permanently installed at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital for patients, loved ones, healthcare professionals, and all who visit to view and feel uplifted.

2024 YAFH Matt Papirmeister Award
Recipients Announced

MAY 2024

Youth Art For Healing is very pleased to announce that Giselle Maravilla and Alanna Sidlowski are the recipients of the 2024 YAFH Matt Papirmeister Award.

Launched in 2022, the YAFH Matt Papirmeister Award is presented annually to two high school seniors who each receive a $2,500 scholarship toward their post-secondary education. YAFH created this award for student artists to honor the life of Matt Papirmeister, son of YAFH founder Jan Papirmeister and her husband Chuck. This award is designed not only to commemorate Matt’s kind spirit and zest for life, but also to honor and support student artists who, with their creativity, empathy and commitment, give to others through their art.

Giselle and Alanna, graduating seniors, came highly recommended by their art teacher Sarah Harnish, Co-Coordinator & Instructor of the Visual Art Center at Albert Einstein High School (AEHS) in Montgomery County, Maryland.

As part of the award application process, each student must create and submit a painting that is healing, inspirational, and comforting for others. Giselle created a beautiful painting of a Torogoz bird and Alanna created a striking landscape of an Arizona sunrise. Both students' paintings (pictured below) will be permanently installed at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.

On April 26, our 2022-23 student artists and YAFH community gathered at the Silver Spring Civic Building for our Art Show. This was our first in-person Art Show since 2019. We celebrated the talented students who participated in our program during the 2022-23 school year. Student artists from 12 schools in the Washington Metro Area created 156 beautiful paintings for six healthcare sites, including 99 works of art for permanent installation and 57 Gifts of Gratitude paintings for healthcare workers. All student artists received Certificates of Appreciation with prints of their paintings.

Jan Papirmeister, YAFH Executive Director, and Carol Berman, Chair of the YAFH Board of Directors and Lead Art Advisor, welcomed attendees and shared their admiration for the student artists who created such uplifting paintings to give to others. They also expressed their gratitude for all who have supported YAFH. Sarah Harnish, Albert Einstein High School Art Teacher, and Leesa Wishart, Holy Cross Hospital Pediatric Center Director, reflected on their years working with YAFH. Ms. Harnish and her students, as well as Ms. Wishart, participated in YAFH’s very first projects during the 2012-13 school year and have partnered with YAFH for many years.

Graduating seniors Erin Malone and Isabel Acuna Marin were presented with the YAFH Matt Papirmeister Award. Both of these outstanding student artists received $2,500 to be applied toward their post-secondary education plans.

YAFH appreciates everyone who attended the Art Show and all of YAFH's supporters!

To view more photographs from the event, visit our 2023 Art Show Gallery.

Dear Friends of YAFH,

It is with immense gratitude for everyone who has supported our mission that we are announcing Youth Art For Healing’s decision to close our doors and say farewell.

Youth Art For Healing was founded in 2012 with a mission to bring works of art created by youth into healthcare environments to provide a sense of comfort, inspiration, and healing for patients and their loved ones, and healthcare professionals. After 11 years of working together, we are celebrating a mission accomplished!

As we celebrate, we hope the mission of Youth Art For Healing continues to inspire people and that youth all around the world may have the opportunity to create art that brings comfort to others.

All donations and remaining funds will go toward the Matt Papirmeister Award to honor and support students who create uplifting artwork to give to others. This annual award will be presented to two high school seniors in the form of a $2,500 scholarship for each student toward their post-secondary education. To learn more about this award or make a donation, visit our Matt Papirmeister Award Page.

We will be sharing more about this transition in the months to come, so please stay tuned.

With great appreciation and a heartfelt thank you,

Jan Papirmeister
YAFH Executive Director

As schools are slowly moving back toward some semblance of normalcy, YAFH continues to provide meaningful avenues for our student artists to create healing artwork for others. This year, we’re excited to have students from 12 schools creating paintings for patient environments and staff at a total of six healthcare locations.

Participating schools include: Albert Einstein High School, Benjamin D. Foulois Creative and Performing Arts Academy, Charles H. Flowers High School, Georgetown Day School, Largo High School, Montgomery Blair High School, Richard Montgomery High School, Thomas S. Wootton High School, St. Andrew Apostle School, Silver Creek Middle School, Watkins Mill High School, and Wheaton High School.

For the third year in a row, student artists are creating Gifts of Gratitude paintings for our frontline healthcare heroes who remain dedicated to caring for COVID-19 patients. We have also been able to work with our healthcare partners to expand our site-based projects once more, in line with our original program model. We are excited to be coordinating artwork for permanent installation in a greater number of clinics, hospitals, and medical offices once again.

This year’s participating healthcare partners include: Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center, Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center, Holy Cross Hospital, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, MedStar Health Physical Therapy at Pikesville, and MedStar Health Physical Therapy at Rosedale.

We look forward to being a part of the artistic journey of this year’s student artists and seeing their incredible results!

YAFH Awarded Seventh Consecutive
Arts & Humanities Grant

April 2022

Youth Art For Healing has been awarded a $22,000 grant for the 2022-23 school year from The Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County. The YAFH team is grateful to AHCMC, who has generously awarded grant funding to support our mission for seven years in a row. The award for the current 2022-23 school year will enable us to continue advancing YAFH's mission by providing us with vital operational funds. AHCMC’s ongoing support allows us to build effective partnerships, share students’ artwork with the community, and more. We appreciate AHCMC’s leadership and vision for the arts in Montgomery County and we are honored to once again be a recipient of this award.

After nearly a decade and through a global pandemic, Youth Art For Healing is still standing strong in support of our mission, thanks to YOU!

For our 2021-22 Standing Strong Fundraising Campaign, our goal was to raise at least $120,000 to provide vital support so that we could continue nurturing budding student artists during the 2021-22 school year. We hoped to raise a higher amount than last year’s fundraising campaign so that we are able to expand our partnerships and work with new schools and healthcare locations year after year.

When we added up all campaign donations made in 2021, we were overwhelmed by your kindness. Our final fundraising total for the year exceeded our goal by $8,949.

Thank you to everyone who made the 2021-22 school year a success!

Announcing YAFH’s 2021-22
Projects and Partners

September 2021

With great obstacles, great opportunities appear. YAFH continues to provide meaningful avenues for our student artists to create healing artwork for others, despite somewhat limited access to our healthcare locations due to COVID-19. This year, we’re excited to have students from 14 schools creating 204 paintings for patient environments and staff at a total of 8 healthcare locations.

Participating schools include Albert Einstein HS, A. Mario Loiederman MS, Benjamin D. Foulois CPPA, Brightwood ES, Charles H. Flowers HS, Gaywood ES, Largo HS, Montgomery Blair HS, Richard Montgomery HS, Thomas S. Wootton HS, Thurgood Marshall MS, Watkins Mill HS, Wheaton HS, and White Oak MS.

For the second year in a row, student artists are creating Gifts of Gratitude paintings for our frontline healthcare heroes who are caring for patients during these unprecedented times. Students will give their Gifts of Gratitude to 125 frontline healthcare workers at these hospitals: Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center, Holy Cross Hospital, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, and the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Our students will also create 79 paintings for permanent installation at these healthcare sites: Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center, Children’s National Hospital, Holy Cross Hospital, MedStar Health Physical Therapy at Waverly, and MedStar Health Physical Therapy at Ellicott City.

Youth Art For Healing has been awarded a $17,500 grant for the 2021-22 school year from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County. This generous award enables us to advance YAFH's mission by providing us with vital operational support to promote effective partnerships, communication needs, and more. The Youth Art For Healing team is grateful to AHCMC for its' leadership and vision for the arts, and is honored to be a recipient of this award!

As we enter our sixth year of partnership, we’re pleased to announce that 51 paintings currently brighten the Emergency Department (ED) hallway of Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC. These works of art were completed during the 2019-20 academic year by talented student artists from:

Charles H. Flowers HS

Gaywood ES

Georgetown Day School

Montgomery Blair HS

Oakland Terrace ES

Oxon Hill HS

Thomas S. Wootton HS

William Paca ES

The paintings, including seascapes, whimsical animals, and other themes will be on display until they are moved to their permanent homes within Children’s National ED, in the radiology area, nursing station, exam rooms, waiting rooms, and hallways.